Thankful In Advent #8

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end.

There are those who like to declare that planet earth is going to Hell in a hand basket… that it is getting more evil, darker and twisted.

I object!

What we fail to recognise is that we have more access to news and information than at any other time in history. The reality… we HEAR more bad news than any generation ever before us. But that doesn’t mean the world is getting more evil. There is a part of me that thinks its impossible for the world to become more evil… evil is as evil does… end of! We’re just hearing about it more. Evil by very nature is not creative or progressive, it is destructive and regressive… your Hitlers and Stalins are no more just as the Assyrians, Babylonians and every other despot and crackpot before them.

Set against the backdrop of darkness (and I do believe the world is in darkness) is set the glorious light of the advent story. Goodness IS creative and progressive. The messiah walks a journey from childhood to sonship until eventually He is described as the Everlasting Father.

Where darkness is celebrated there is no doubt it becomes ‘thicker’. However, the advent gospel reminds us that where light has broken in, it burns ever brighter and longer. As each new soul, sphere of society and nation is impacted by Jesus there is an ever increasing experience of His government and PEACE.

We can be Thankful In Advent because the advent story proclaims ‘of His Kingdom there will be no end’ and that His Kingdom will be characterised by the eternal ongoing exponential increase of His government and peace.

The Apostle John summed it beautifully… “He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new…” ()

2 The people who walked in darknesshave seen a great light;those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,on them has light shined.3 You have multiplied the nation;you have increased its joy;they rejoice before youas with joy at the harvest,as they are glad when they divide the spoil.4 For the yoke of his burden,and the staff for his shoulder,the rod of his oppressor,you have broken as on the day of Midian.5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumultand every garment rolled in bloodwill be burned as fuel for the fire.6 For to us a child is born,to us a son is given;and the government shall be upon his shoulder,and his name shall be calledWonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.7 Of the increase of his government and of peacethere will be no end,on the throne of David and over his kingdom,to establish it and to uphold itwith justice and with righteousnessfrom this time forth and forevermore.The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. (ESV)